mmhbeer wrote:On last years tdu ride I ended up in the middle of a pack of pro looking ladies going up a hill. They were all wearing jerseys advertising a Victorian bike shop and told me to drop out of their bunch. They hadn't paid to do the ride and were treating it like its a race.

I dropped back and heard them abuse other riders. I passed them on a downhill stretch and when they caught me again they were told me again to get out of their way. I let loose at them and asked if your so pro why are you so far back? Even a fat rider like me is keeping up.

mmhbeer wrote:On last years tdu ride I ended up in the middle of a pack of pro looking ladies going up a hill. They were all wearing jerseys advertising a Victorian bike shop and told me to drop out of their bunch. They hadn't paid to do the ride and were treating it like its a race.

I dropped back and heard them abuse other riders. I passed them on a downhill stretch and when they caught me again they were told me again to get out of their way. I let loose at them and asked if your so pro why are you so far back? Even a fat rider like me is keeping up.

When I did the ATB in Melbourne this year, I bypassed the official start and hopped on the route a couple ks ahead, to avoid the crowds and delays at the start. Is this a good idea for this ride as well? I am not keen to wait around for ages before I roll off. Perhaps it is not so considerate seeing a lot of faster people will have to pass me. But I am a sole rider and keep well left, so I don't think it is a major inconvenience. Any thoughts on whether this is bad form, not allowed or not necessary? Looking forward to it!

newie wrote:When I did the ATB in Melbourne this year, I bypassed the official start and hopped on the route a couple ks ahead, to avoid the crowds and delays at the start. Is this a good idea for this ride as well? I am not keen to wait around for ages before I roll off. Perhaps it is not so considerate seeing a lot of faster people will have to pass me. But I am a sole rider and keep well left, so I don't think it is a major inconvenience. Any thoughts on whether this is bad form, not allowed or not necessary? Looking forward to it!

My riding buddy does that evry year, i rode with him last year, we left about 30 minutes early and there were hundreds doing the same thing. The faster riders will just ride past you. IMO leaving early is a very good idea.

My riding buddy does that evry year, i rode with him last year, we left about 30 minutes early and there were hundreds doing the same thing. The faster riders will just ride past you. IMO leaving early is a very good idea.[/quote]

Cool, thanks, I think I will do that then. It will give me less pressure to make it to Tanunda in plenty of time before the race comes through - I am no speed demon.

Dr_Mutley wrote:I used to leave early, and last year tried leaving late, and found it a much more enjoyable ride...

Excellent idea. It also means that you can sleep in and avoid the long wait for the start in the cold. And with the earlier start times for the shorter distances, most of those riders will be finished before you catch them.

It's promoted as "a challenge - not a race" and yet they make us queue up at the start line and fire a gun to start us all at once. No wonder many see it as a race. Why don't they just tell us to head off once we're scanned in and ready to go? After all, it's not like they time us or anything.

I did the ride, I have to say I found it packed and claustrophobic at the start. I used my bike like a scooter for the first km and my leg was sore from pushing off the road till we started.Once we started about 5km into the ride this unsteady man decided to look behind him and turn his wheel onto me and he fell. I held him up with my left elbow till I passed and then he crashed onto my back wheel, I stopped up a head, he seemed fine. So many people who don't know how to keep their line.The other thing that pissed me of where the heavier riders. They would take over the road down the hill and go down like a semi trailer out of control only to go at granny pace up the hills.Otherwise the ride was fun and extremely well organised. I must say I was not keen on the crowds but it sure was worth the trip

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.Speak your mind,Those that mind dont matter, Those that matter dont mind!!

Apple wrote:The other thing that pissed me of where the heavier riders. They would take over the road down the hill and go down like a semi trailer out of control only to go at granny pace up the hills.

Wow.. must have really ruined your day that some overweight person attempting a physical challenge had gravity on their side when descending, and had to put in 1000% more effort than everyone else to get up the hills... What an inconvenience... do us a favour and stay in Sydney next time...

I was trying to ride with no one this year as I came off last year. But it was bloody hard to do for the first half of the ride, it wasn't hilly enough to separate the field. There was just enough rolling hills to keep the field together.

Also I slowed down on the downhills to give myself a comfortable space between me and the rider in front, which meant that most of the riders i passed going up hill ended up in front of me at the next uphill bit.

Definitely consider starting 1/2 hour earlier like the stream of people i passed while riding to the start.

Apple wrote:I did the ride, I have to say I found it packed and claustrophobic at the start. I used my bike like a scooter for the first km and my leg was sore from pushing off the road till we started.Once we started about 5km into the ride this unsteady man decided to look behind him and turn his wheel onto me and he fell. I held him up with my left elbow till I passed and then he crashed onto my back wheel, I stopped up a head, he seemed fine. So many people who don't know how to keep their line.The other thing that pissed me of where the heavier riders. They would take over the road down the hill and go down like a semi trailer out of control only to go at granny pace up the hills.Otherwise the ride was fun and extremely well organised. I must say I was not keen on the crowds but it sure was worth the trip

mmhbeer wrote:[You must ride pretty slow if your stuck with all us fat people Apple.

No, I am big too. I just don't side swipe people on the way down. I have the courtesy to say, â€œon your rightâ€. I like to be aware of others as there are 8000 riders there, Safety is important, but hey if you have lots of body fat and bounce on your way down, thatâ€™s good also. Just don't take others with you

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.Speak your mind,Those that mind dont matter, Those that matter dont mind!!